Patent GB-611828-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to the treatment with resinous polymers of fibrous materials
IPC: D06M15/267
Filed: 1946-05-09
Abstract: Fibrous materials consisting wholly or partly of wool are impregnated with a cationic emulsifying agent and then with an emulsion of a resinous vinyl polymer containing an anionic emulsifying agent, or, alternatively, they are treated with an anionic emulsifying agent and then with an emulsion of a resinous vinyl polymer containing a cationic emulsifying agent.  The materials are then dried.  A plasticizer may be added to the resinous vinyl polymer to prevent the deposited resin being removed on vigorous shaking or laundering.  The vinyl polymer may be polystyrene, polyvinylidene chloride, or polymethyl methacrylate.  The cationic emulsifying agent may be cetyl pyridinium bromide, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, or stearamido methyl pyridinium chloride.  The anionic emulsifying agent may be sodium oleyl sulphate, sodium dibenzyl sulphanilate, or a sodium salt of an alkylated naphthalene sulphonate.  The wool may be dried and cured at 110 DEG  C.  To obtain unshrinkable wool a deposit of 10 to 15 per cent of resin should be left on the fibres.  The wool fibres may be mixed or associated with rayon, cotton or other artificial or vegetable fibres.  If only about 2 or 3 per cent of resin is deposited on the fibres, the material is not rendered unshrinkable, but it is given a fuller feel.  Fibres, yarns, fabrics or garments may be treated.  Diethyl phthalate, dimethyl glycol phthalate, or tricresyl phosphate may be used as plasticizer for the polymethyl methacrylate or polystyrene.  In an example, 75 grams of methyl methacrylate, 25 grams of diethyl phthalate and 200 grams of water with 1 gram of potassium persulphate and 1 gram of an alkylated naphthalene sodium sulphonate are emulsified and stirred for 4 hours at 60 DEG  C. to polymerize the methacrylate.  Knitted wool fabric, previously treated with a cationic emulsifying agent and dried, is impregnated with the resin emulsion and then squeezed, dried and cured at 110 DEG  to 120 DEG  C.  The treated material has very little tendency to shrink.  In another example, styrene, diethyl phthalate, potassium persulphate, an anionic emulsifying agent and water are emulsified and heated to 70 DEG  C. to polymerize the styrene.  Wool, previously treated with a cationic emulsifying agent is treated with the emulsion and then dried and cured.  In another example, an emulsion of vinylidene chloride is similarly prepared, polymerization being effected at 20 DEG  C.  Methyl methacrylate and diethyl phthalate are emulsified with water containing cetyl pyridinium bromide and benzoyl peroxide.  The emulsion is heated to 60 DEG  C. to polymerize the methacrylate.ALSO:Fibrous materials consisting wholly or partly of wool are impregnated with a cationic emulsifying agent and then with an emulsion of a resinous vinyl polymer containing an anionic emulsifying agent, or, alternatively, they are treated with an anionic emulsifying agent and then with an emulsion of a resinous vinyl polymer containing a cationic emulsifying agent.  The materials are then dried.  The treatment ensures that the resin is firmly anchored to the fibrous material which may be rendered substantially non-felting and non-shrinking. The resistance to abrasion is also improved.  A plasticizer may be added to the resinous vinyl polymer to prevent the deposited resin being removed on vigorous shaking or laundering.  The vinyl polymer may be polystyrene, poly-vinylidene chloride, or polymethyl methacrylate.  The cationic emulsifying agent may be cetyl pyridinium bromide, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, or stearamido methyl pyridinium chloride.  The anionic emulsifying agent may be sodium oleyl sulphate, sodium dibenzyl sulphanilate, or a sodium salt of an alkylated naphthalene sulphonate.  The wool may be dried and cured at 110 DEG  C.  To obtain unshrinkable wool a deposit of 10 to 15 per cent of resin should be left on the fibres.  The wool fibres may be mixed or associated with rayon, cotton, or other artificial or vegetable fibres.  If only about 2 or 3 per cent of resin is deposited on the fibres, the material is not rendered unshrinkable but it is given a fuller feel.  Fibres, yarns, fabrics or garments may be treated.  Diethyl phthalate, dimethyl glycol phthalate, or tricresyl phosphate may be used as plasticizer for the polymethyl methacrylate or polystyrene.  In an example, 75 grams of methyl methacrylate, 25 grams of diethyl phthalate and 200 grams of water with 1 gram of potassium persulphate and 1 gram of an alkylated naphthalene sodium sulphonate are emulsified and stirred for 4 hours at 60 DEG  C. to polymerize the methacrylate.  Knitted wool fabric, previously treated with a cationic emulsifying agent and dried, is impregnated with the resin emulsion and then squeezed, dried and cured at 110 DEG  to 120 DEG  C.  The treated material has very little tendency to shrink.  In another example, styrene, diethyl phthalate, potassium persulphate, an anionic emulsifying agent and water are emulsified and heated to 70 DEG  C. to polymerize the styrene.  Wool, previously treated with a cationic emulsifying agent is treated with the emulsion and then dried and cured.  In another example, an emulsion of vinylidene chloride is similarly prepared, polymerization being effected at 20 DEG  C.  Methyl methacrylate and diethyl phthalate are emulsified with water containing cetyl pyridinium bromide and benzoyl peroxide.  The emulsion is heated to 60 DEG  C. to polymerize the methacrylate.